Studies have concluded that when a baby is first born she can’t distinguish herself as separate from her mother. (I couldn’t find it in my 700 page book but I can vouch for it.) The first step towards the concept of self is taken at 2 to 3 months of age when a baby learns that she can have effects on things (e.g. when she touches something it moves and when she cries someone responds).

Zara being almost 12 months is at a stage where her subjective self has most likely fully emerged which means that she’s figuring out that Mom and Dad continue to exist when they’re out of sight and that she exists separately and has some permanence.

It’s harder to determine when a child grasps that she’s also an object in the world and has qualities (like size) just like any object. The most commonly used procedure to test the child’s initial self-awareness that delineates the formation of the objective self is the one with the mirror and the spot on the face.

A classic study from 1978 shows that few 9- to 12-month-old children touch their own nose but three-quarters of children aged 21 months do.

The interesting thing is that mirror recognition and self-naming develop at almost exactly the same time! So when Zara starts “passing” the mirror test she should also be able to name herself – and her Mom – correctly.

I am too happy to react when ethyl calls me…and she shouts “Mommy” when she sees me…ur turn will come! 🙂

samm,
it’s really amazing right? And you just don’t know how they are motivated. Some difficult words they can say it, but easy word like Mama, they won’t even attempt till later.

helen,
you are right. Sometimes hubby missed it as well, don’t know what she’s trying to say until I pointed it out.
She’s very talkative, but most of the time, it’s just making ‘noise’.

dinah,
thanks.

jason,
And soon, she’ll start to ‘pok chui’.

blurblur,
I’m anxiously waiting for her to call me.

allfeel,
I tried. Different tricks, but when she hear the word mama, mummy, she’ll not want to repeat after me.

It’s ok one, teach her more “mum mum- makan”, she will call mama soon. 😛

BB can called everybody including kakak at 14 months but not me. Now, he calls Mommi every day loudly.

Hmm..i guess all babies call their mummies last..maybe they really think we’re them and they’re us…haha..;p

So many comments, getting popular ler you.

Is Zara usually talkative??

mei – hah, i’ve never tried that before, should try it out on Gordon one day.